So technically this question pertains to a flatstock job, but I have a feeling that the answer may be a screen making issue which leads me to ask this question here. If there is a better place for this question, please feel free to move.
Anyhow, we abandoned a print run earlier this afternoon on account of not being able to hold some fine reverse detail. The jist of the job is that it's an otherwise easy 2 color, but the key plate is a full 18x24 flood with some fine reversed knockouts that were pretty unforgiving. I'm running TW 5500 waterbased inks with an added 1% thickener in hopes of holding that detail to no avail. My immediate plan is to level back a few of the problem spots in pre press and reoutput. I was also going to bump up my mesh from a 230 to a 280 with an additional facecoat.
My question is, is this thinking correct that an added facecoat on higher mesh will create a better gasket thus reducing gain? Or, is this thinking backwards?